"Would you like to go?" he whispered rapidly. "My horse is ready saddled--you know where to find him."
I thanked him with a look; but shook my head, and the giant fell back.
"Shall I break it open, excellency?" and Braccio held the bag out to D'Alegres.
"My master has the key," put in Tarbes; "I know no more."
"I--the key!" I exclaimed. "Villain, the bag is not mine!"
"It bears your arms, however;" Braccio pointed to a little metal plate on which they were distinctly engraved.
"You must, I am afraid, submit to the further indignity of being searched," said D'Alegres.
There was no hope in resistance and I endured this. Braccio himself searched me, and almost as soon as he began, pulled from an inner pocket of my vest a small key, attached to a fine gold chain.
"Here is the noble knight's key," he exclaimed, "and see; it fits exactly!" He turned it in the lock, opened the valise, and emptied the contents out on a rough camp table. A low murmur went up, for amongst the small heap of articles was Hawkwood's leather bag, and madame's bracelet, whilst something rolled a little on one side, and fell off softly to the turf. A soldier picked it up, and placed it face upwards on the table--the lost medallion.
One by one D'Alegres held up the articles sadly, and I looked round in my agony on the faces of those who but an hour ago were my friends. They had all shrunk back from me, and I was alone within the circle of the guards. D'Entrangues stood with folded arms, and a smile on his lips, and Tarbes glanced from side to side, like an ape seeking chance for escape. I looked towards Hawkwood, but even his face was hard and set.